In the News

Affinity Physicians Connect with the State Legislature to Discuss TeleHealth

Affinity Clinic family physicians Dr. Kristin Gore and Dr. Benjamin Hess promoted the benefits of telemedicine to the Georgia State Assembly on Feb. 24 through a live connection to the state capitol.

As part of the Doctor of the Day event hosted by the Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth (GPT), Dr. Gore and Dr. Hess addressed a joint session of the Georgia Senate and Georgia House of Representatives via a telemedicine link. Dr. Gore and Dr. Hess discussed Tift Regional Health System’s telemedicine program with school-based clinics, highlighting a partnership with the Turner County Board of Education. They also provided a brief demonstration on the telemedicine exam process. GPT recently announced a partnership between the student clinic at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and Tift Regional Health System. Located in Tifton, Affinity Clinic is the region’s largest multi-specialty medical practice and is a part of the Tift Regional Physician Group.

Chamber and Hospital Recognize Dr. Joe Turner

The Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) recently presented special awards to internal medical physician Dr. Joe Turner for serving as a pioneer for the local medical community.

The Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce presented the Stafford Award to Dr. Joe Turner at its annual banquet on Jan. 29. The chamber recognized Dr. Turner for his achievements and community impact as an internal medicine physician, founder of Affinity Clinic and medical staff leader at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC). The award was presented by last year’s Stafford Award winner, Dr. David Bridges, president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). Dr. Bridges said that Dr. Turner “was instrumental in recruiting more physicians to the area and shaping the services provided at Tift Regional Medical Center.” Established in 1974, the Stafford Award recognizes a local business leader who has made significant contributions to local economic growth.

February 14 will mark the 51st year that Dr. Joe Turner has served Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) as a medical staff physician. The team at the Heart and Vascular Center honored Dr. Turner at a luncheon in December with an achievement award for “blazing the early trail” in cardiology at TRMC. Before there were cardiologists on the TRMC medical staff, Dr. Turner was the only physician in the area who performed and interpreted cardiovascular studies.

Dr. Turner is the first to receive this award, which was developed by the Heart and Vascular Center’s Team Spirit Committee and Dr. Jonathan Tronolone. Recipients of the award are to embody the seven elements of the Heart and Vascular Charter, which was established in October and signed by all physicians and employees of the Center to commit to excellence in patient safety, the patient experience, and efficiency in the Center. The Center will continue this luncheon annually and will award The Joseph Turner Heart and Vascular Center Employee of the Year in Dr. Turner’s honor.

“The Heart and Vascular team was so honored to be able to present Dr. Turner with this award. His service and contributions have led to the success of TRMC and Cardiology. On behalf of all who have benefitted, we thank him for blazing the early trail,” states Demarius McRae, Director of the Heart and Vascular Center at TRMC.

Announcements

New Nephrologist Joins Affinity Clinic

Affinity Clinic and the Tift Regional Medical Center Dialsysis Center welcome nephrologist Rehan Shah, M.D. Board-certified in nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Shah will work alongside fellow nephrologist Melissa Rampal, M.D. in providing the diagnosis and treatment of renal diseases. Dr. Shah has expert training in dialysis, cancers, stones and infections of the kidney. A graduate of the American University of the Caribbean Medical School, Dr. Shah completed residency and fellowship training at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. To make an appointment with Dr. Shah, please call 229-391-4100.

Blog

Affinity Supports Child Abuse Prevention Month

March 31, 2015 by Molly Huff

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, Affinity Clinic encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Tifton and the surround communities a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities.

Research shows that when parents possess six protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted. These six protective factors are:

Nurturing and attachment

Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development

Parental resilience

Social connections

Concrete supports for parents

Social and emotional developmental well-being

April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children, and everyone’s participation is critical. Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors, in every interaction with children and families, is the best thing our community can do to prevent child maltreatment and promote optimal child development.